Ex-Minister Opposes Withdrawal Of Grants To Parties …Wants Reduction In Parties

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazuruike Amaechi, said the withdrawal of government subventions to political parties during elections would endanger the country’s nascent democracy.

Amaechi told newsmen in Enugu that stopping of grants to political parties would only give access to corrupt politicians who looted the treasury to perpetually remain in power.

The Tide source reports that recently, the Senate proposed stopping of grants to the political parties during elections as part of the ongoing constitutional review.

“The problem is that corrupt men are using their stolen money to finance elections, when honest men form political parties with proper ideology and principle they are unable to finance elections due to lack of money.

“There are honest political parties and politicians with good intentions, so, I am of the opinion that government should continue to shoulder the responsibility of financing them during elections.

“I am also advocating that the number of political parties be reduced to the barest minimum”, he said. Amaechi suggested that all the political parties that scored less than 10 percent of total votes cast in the last general elections should be deregistered to bring the number of parties to about five.

The former minister noted that some of the parties were merely being floated for selfish interest and such political parties should be deregistered.

“When we fought for democracy, we fought on the platform of political parties formed by nationalists and there was nothing like government subventions to the political parties.

“We got money from donations and 10 percent of salaries of all public office holders.  They gave written instructions to banks to deduct it at source.

“There was nothing like rigging.  What appeared like rigging was when the late Chief Samuel Akintola wanted to introduce in 1954 in then Western House of Assembly.

“And that action fueled the crisis which ultimately led to the military take over of power of January 1966.